Snap link



April 3, 1928. 1,665,059

0- C. HILL SNAP LINK Filed Nov. 29, 1927 Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

UNITED STATES OBIS C. HILL, 0]? PAWTUGKET, RHODE ISLAND.

SNAP LINK.

Application filed November 29, 1927. Serial No. 236,509.

This invention relates to snap links for connecting the ends of tire chains and the object sought is to provide an easily produced and inexpensive link which may be easily manipulated to join the ends of the chain and the construction of which will prevent the chain end being engaged in the wrong end of the link.

A link embodying the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and will be hereinafter first fully described and then particularly defined in the appended claims.

In the drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved link;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Fig. 4C is: a detail longitudinal section.

In forming a. link according to the present invention, there is employed a length of bar which is originally of uniform width and also of uniform thickness from end to end. One end portion of the bar is reduced in thickness and expanded in width, thereby forming a shoulder 1 on one surface and converging shoulders 2 on its side edges. The ends of the bar are doubled on themselves to form hooks 3 and 4, and the bar is also slightly bent or curved between its ends whereby it is given the arched form indicated at 5 which permits it to fit closely to the tread of the tire. The hook 3 is formed on a greater radius. than hook 4 and has a shorter bill, the end of the bill of the latter hook being approximately over the highest point of the shoulder 1 and the radii of the hooks being such that the outer surface of the hook 4 is in a plane with the inner surface of the bill of the hook 3. As a result of this construction, the mouth of the hook 3 is about twice as wide as the mouth of the hook 4 which is also of less width than the distance between the opposed walls of the hook, the last-mentioned distance being measured on the line 6 in Fig. 1, the mouth of the hook 4 being measured on the line 7, and the mouth of the hook 3 being measured on the line 8. While the end of the chain h may be readily engaged with the hook 4 in assembling the device, it cannot readily separate therefrom under chance blows or accidents inasmuch as the shoulder 1 offers an obstruction to its free egress. Also, when the free end of the chain is being engaged with the hook 3, its entanglement with the anchored end of the chain is avoided as the shoulders 2 limit the sliding of the free end of the chain along the body of the link. The application of the link to the chain in the proper position is, therefore, certain.

On the outer side of the hook 4: are two studs or teats 9, spaced longitudinally thereon, and the spring tongue 10 is formed with two correspondingly spaced openings to engage the studs which are upset against the spring, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, the spring tongue being thus firmly and permanently anchored in proper position on the hook. The free end of the spring tongue engages the inner side of the bill of the hook 3 and it will be noticed that bending of the tongue is not necessary, owing to the relative sizes of the hooks and the arrangement of their corresponding features.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Let ters Patent of the United States, is

1. A link comprising a bar having one end portion relatively reduced in thickness and increased in width whereby shoulders are formed on its edges and across one side, the ends of the bar curving over the same to form hooks of different radii with the smal'ler hook terminating over the shoulder on the side of the bar, and a spring tongue anchored at one end on the outer side of the smaller hook and having its free end engaging against the inner side of the larger hook.

2. A link comprising a bar having one end portion relatively reduced in thickness whereby a shoulder is formed across one side, the ends of the bar curved over the same to form hooks of different radii, with the smaller hook terminating over the shoulder on the side of the bar, and a spring tongue anchored at one end on the outer side of the smaller hook and having its free end englzlged against the inner side of the larger 3. A link comprising a bar having one end portion relatively reduced in thickness whereby a shoulder is formed across one side, the ends of the bar curving over the same to form hooks of different rad-ii, With the sma'ller hook tegminating over the shoulder on the side of the bar, a pair of longi- 5 tudinelly spaced studs on the outer side of the smaller hook, and a spring tongue havinging one end engaged over and held by OBIS o. HILL. 

